Be Safe. PK-12 Education · •Encourage a tracking element to self-screening; i.e., in-person symptom checking and monitoring, ... •Restrict or discourage the use of shared electronic

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Be Safe. PK-12

Education

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Be Safe. PK-12 EducationWhat's in this guide?

Social distancing

Gathering size

Healthy interactions Safe spaces and conditions

Operational resilience and monitoring

Cautiously reopening Chicago requires:

Limitations on

physical distance to

other individuals

Limitations on

gatherings of

individuals

Protective gear

Use of protective

gear by individuals

Hygiene requirements

Ensuring hygienic

interactions (e.g.,

hand washing)

Entry access Flexible models

Cleaning standards Operational resiliency

Visual guidance Travel guidelines

Workplace conditions Testing / tracking

Entry/exit condition

for access to space

Actions taken to

disinfect space

Hygiene resources

and guidance

posted in space

Evaluation of foot

traffic, ventilation, etc.

Flexibility with sick

leave, remote work

(when possible)

Support for

operational flexibility

(e.g., multiple shifts)

Restriction of

movement of people

between locations

Facilitation of testing

and tracking

- Recommended guidance -

Gradually Resume

(Phase IV)

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Be Safe. PK-12 EducationIllustrative example


What may be different?

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1 4Hallways or other places where

students queue marked with

suggested 6 ft distancing

markings

2 Encourage social distancing

within the classroom, promote

distancing by moving desks or

furniture in the classroom,

where possible

Provide hand sanitizer stations

throughout school and office

spaces, including at all

entrances, exits, and classrooms

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3 Face coverings required at all

times while inside the school

building

Visual signage posted

throughout facilities regarding

hygiene, social distancing,

proper PPE and more

Gradually Resume

(Phase IV)

Any student or staff who arrives

with COVID-19 symptoms or

develops symptoms during the day

should be separated in a

designated space while

transportation home is arranged

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Be Safe. PK-12 EducationHealthy interactions

Social

distancing

Encourage social distancing >6ft in classrooms and common areas (e.g., lobbies, hallways, rooms, elevators)

• Encourage and promote social distancing in all

areas of the school building, including inside the

classroom, in hallways, and in staff spaces (e.g.,

office spaces, security and front desks); exceptions

for emergency situations or drills where adherence

would create additional health or safety risk

• Where possible, rearrange furniture in classrooms

to promote social distancing (e.g., move desks to

allow 6 ft between students)

• Where possible, arrange for seats to face the same

direction

• Where possible, assign seating in classrooms,

especially where social distancing is more difficult

(e.g., at tables), to limit interactions to the same

group of students

• Encourage social distancing measures between

school staff outside of assigned cohorts (teacher

to teacher; school administrator to teacher, etc.)

• Consider strategies that help to promote social

distancing, including shifting schedules, staggering

of schedules for arrival / dismissal, hall passing

periods, revising activities that combine classes or

grade levels, broadcasting in-class instruction to

multiple rooms, or moving class activities outdoor if

weather and safety condition permit


Gradually Resume

(Phase IV)

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Gathering

size

Limit the use of common areas where large gatherings may occur, promote stable cohorts

• Where practical, assign adults and students into

cohort grouping, and aim to keep cohorts as

stable as possible (e.g., transition teachers and

staff between cohorts of students to deliver

instruction)

• Where possible, restrict activities or gatherings that

combine multiple cohort groupings

• Students may be cohorted with select service

providers who provide additional

programming/services (e.g. Paraprofessionals,

Respective Service Providers, instructional

specialists) and who may align to scheduled

breaks and prep periods during the day for

teachers

• Limit gatherings of students and staff to no more

than 50 individuals indoor, or 100 individuals

outdoor, while ensuring social distancing measures

are in place

• Discourage assemblies or larger group gatherings

with multiple cohorts; if required, limit gathering to

no more than 50 individuals

• Multiple gatherings of 50 allowed in the same

space (e.g., gym or auditorium) if floor to ceiling

barriers are in place (e.g., room dividers)

Gradually Resume

(Phase IV)

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Hygiene

req's

Provide hand sanitizer at multiple locations throughout campus

• Require staff and students to wash hands or

sanitize upon arrival at school, before meals,

anytime they leave their classroom cohort, and

upon dismissal

• Provide hand sanitizer stations throughout school

and office spaces, including at all entrances, exits,

and classrooms


Protective

gear• In any indoor common spaces, face coverings

must be worn over nose and mouth (exceptions

can be made for people with medical conditions

or disabilities that prevent them from safely

wearing a face covering)

• Face coverings may be removed in any outdoor

setting (e.g., recess, outdoor classes) if individuals

are practicing social distancing

• Allow teachers and students to use face shields in

lieu of masks to allow students to lip read or to help

word pronunciation (e.g., English Learners, early

childhood, foreign language); clear face

coverings preferred. NOTE: There is still limited

knowledge about face shields and stricter

adherence to social distancing is encouraged

• Ensure face coverings are worn by students and

staff during arrival/dismissal; when face coverings

cannot be worn due to medical or other reasons,

or significantly limit learning, clear face coverings

or face shields can be considered in lieu of masks

• Where appropriate, school nurses and Related-

Service Providers (RSPs) may wear N95 masks,

depending on their job requirements and duties

Face coverings to be worn by all individuals

Gradually Resume

(Phase IV)

7

Be Safe. PK-12 EducationSafe spaces and working conditions

Entry

Access

Self screen before entering buildings; Evaluate ingress and egress points to limit physical contact

• Prior to leaving home, all individuals encouraged to self-identify symptoms and stay at home if symptomatic

• Prior to entering establishment, staff and employees must self-screen (e.g., questionnaire -see appendix) to ensure no symptoms of COVID-19

• Prior to sending kids off to school, parents / guardians should screen their child for any potential symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g., a symptom checklist, questionnaire, thermometer) to determine if they are well enough to attend; students who are old enough should conduct a self-screening assessment (e.g., questionnaire - see appendix)

• Where possible, provide one-way entry/exit for buildings

• Limit visitors coming into the building to only those essential to supporting student services; ensure all visitors are aware of social distancing and PPE requirements

• Encourage a tracking element to self-screening; i.e., in-person symptom checking and monitoring, self-certifications / verifications, etc.


Gradually Resume

(Phase IV)

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Cleaning

standards

Enhance cleaning procedures in high-traffic areas and of high-touch surfaces

• Ensure all shared spaces and equipment (e.g.,

bathrooms, water fountains) are cleaned multiple

times a day according to CDPH guidelines

• Clean frequently touched surfaces (e.g., door

handles, desktops, light switches, pencil

sharpeners, faucets, etc.) on a daily basis

• Disinfect shared workstations (e.g., security posts,

shared desks) between every shift or staff use

• Restrict or discourage the use of shared electronic

devices, toys, books, and other games or learning

aids

• Ensure availability of EPA-approved disinfectants,

and other cleaning and sanitizing supplies (e.g.,

soap, paper towel, sanitizer) throughout the

building for all grade levels and in all common

areas

• Keep all disinfectants and other harsh chemicals

out of reach of young children


Gradually Resume

(Phase IV)

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Visual

guidance

Provide signage at any entry/exit points and any other high-traffic common areas

• Post signs for requirements for building access

(e.g., PPE), and throughout high-traffic areas (e.g.,

hallways, offices, meeting rooms) promoting

healthy hygiene and interactions (handwashing,

social distancing, face-coverings, and proper

wearing of face coverings)

• Post signs in high traffic areas and office spaces

with information about symptoms (e.g. common

symptoms, what to do if you feel ill)

• Where practical, mark hallways or places where

students queue with floor markings (e.g., one-way

hallway arrows, 6 ft markings in lunch lines)

Work-

place

Ensure premises and facilities minimize contact between people

• Encourage students to use reusable water bottles,

and provide disposable cups near drinking

fountains, where possible; train students and staff

on appropriate use of drinking fountains (e.g., do

not place mouth on the spout and clean hands

after touching surfaces)

• Where appropriate and applicable, reserve

elevators for essential use only; optimize elevator

occupancy, utilize floor markings and/or signage

to limit number of people in the elevator and

promote social distancing, where possible

• Where appropriate, prop open doors and

windows to rooms to increase ventilation

• Where possible, have students eat breakfast and

lunch in their classrooms to minimize gatherings in

cafeterias


Gradually Resume

(Phase IV)

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Be Safe. PK-12 EducationOperations and monitoring

Flexible

models

Transitions from remote learning, provide flexible learning models to vulnerable students

• Promote in-person instruction to students

whenever possible, provided that the school is

able to comply with capacity limits and implement

social distancing measures

• For medically fragile students, students at higher

risk of severe illness, or students who live with

individuals at higher risk of severe illness, ensure

students have access to remote learning or a mix

of in-person and remote learning, according to

the ISBE guidance on "Blended Remote Learning

Days"

• Students may continue to receive remote learning

due to shift schedules that do not permit all

students to be in the building at the same time or if

their cohort is quarantined due to exposure to

COVID-19

• Ensure vulnerable employees with underlying

conditions may continue to work remotely as their

job duties permit, or develop remote working

guidance to assign new duties better suited for

remote work that comply with applicable

contractual agreements.


Gradually Resume

(Phase IV)

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Operation

resiliency

Modify operations to reduce personal contact and promote healthy habits

• Limit the use of shared workspaces, where possible

• Where practical, adopt or adjust shift schedules for

employees (staggered start/end times or A/B

days/weeks schedules)

• Where applicable, limit "Open Campus" model for

high-school student lunch periods

• Follow ISBE guidance on ancillary programs (e.g.,

physical education, before and after-care and

other programs)


Gradually Resume

(Phase IV)

Travel

guidelines

Promote safe travel to / from school; limit travel by staff

• Ensure all students traveling to / from school on a

bus are wearing face coverings; no more than 50

students should be on the bus at one time, with

social distancing as much as possible

• Suspend school-sponsored international or

domestic travel, exceptions can be made for

international students who enroll in the school for

the complete school year

• Ensure international students self-quarantine for 14

days prior to attending school; ensure student can

engage in remote learning at that time if school is

in session

• Discourage personal travel; staff and students who

travel internationally may be asked to self-

quarantine for 14 days upon return according to

CDC guidance

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Testing/

Tracking• If an employee does contract COVID-19, they

must follow all CDC guidelines before returning to

work

• If an employee or student is identified as being

COVID-19 positive by testing, cleaning and

disinfecting must be performed according to CDC

guidelines

• Any employee or student who has had close

contact with any other person who is diagnosed

with COVID-19 should self quarantine according

to CDC guidelines

• Schools should report individual cases and clusters

of 2 or more cases over a 14 day period to CDPH

• Follow all other CDPH guidance set forth and

comply with CDPH recommendations in response

to a workplace outbreak

• Any individual within the school environment who

shows symptoms should be immediately separated

from the rest of the school population and sent

home; designate a safe area to quarantine any

individuals who are waiting for pick-up

Please see next page for more details

Follow CDPH and CDC guidance for testing and tracing protocols

Gradually Resume

(Phase IV)

13



Testing/

Tracking• Any individual within the school environment who

shows symptoms should be immediately separated

from the rest of the school population and sent

home; designate a safe area to quarantine any

individuals who are waiting for pick-up

• Reporting of cases: All schools should inform staff,

students, and parents/guardians of expected

reporting guidelines, including information on how

to report cases to the school

• If an employee contracts COVID-19, they

must immediately notify the school and

isolate according to CDC guidelines

• If a student contracts COVID-19, parents or

guardians must notify the school

immediately and isolate according to CDC

guidelines

• If an employee or student is identified as being

COVID-19 positive by testing, cleaning and

disinfecting must be performed according to CDC

guidelines

• The school must contact CDPH via the CDPH

online case report form posted at

http://redcap.link/chicovidreport to report the

case and receive consultation as needed.

• CDPH will perform additional follow-up with the

student’s family or the employee as needed

• Once a school is notified about a positive case,

the school should identify the positive employee’s

or student’s cohort and any other close contacts

(within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more) according to

The below protocol outlines the recommended steps in response to a case of COVID-19 among an employee or student; these are consistent with CDC recommendations and subject to change

Gradually Resume

(Phase IV)

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/isolation.html


https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/clean-disinfect/index.html

http://redcap.link/chicovidreport

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Testing/

TrackingCDPH guidelines. The school should notify and

instruct the entire cohort and close contacts to

quarantine for 14 days after last exposure to the

positive individual. This includes potential exposures

at school-related activities, before- and after-

school programs, and on bus transportation

• It is recommended that schools have a

standard template to facilitate this

communication and that the school protect

the privacy of individual

• Close contacts who are symptomatic are

recommended to contact their healthcare

provider for evaluation and testing as soon

as possible after symptoms start

• Close contacts without symptoms are

recommended to get tested 5-9 days after

exposure

• A negative test at any time during the

quarantine period does not release an

individual from the full 14-day quarantine

• If a close contact tests positive, the

employee or student’s parents or guardians

should promptly notify the school

• Close contacts that become a case

should follow CDC guidelines on

isolation

• Establish distance learning for the quarantined

cohort

• Establish a protocol that allows students /

staff to collect materials at school necessary


Gradually Resume

(Phase IV)


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Testing/

Trackingfor the quarantine period. This should

minimize exposure to others (e.g., allow for

material pickup after or before school hours)

• A positive case in a cohort does not automatically

lead to school closure. School closure decisions

should be made in consultation with CDPH and will

be based on multiple factors, including the

number of positive cases, the number of cohorts

affected, school absenteeism, the level of

community spread, as well as potentially other

relevant factors

• The school should send a general notification to

the entire school community, being sensitive to

protecting the identify of impacted students and

employees

• Any employee or student who has had close

contact with any other person outside of the

school who is diagnosed with COVID-19 should

self-quarantine according to CDC guidelines

• Schools should report both individual cases and

clusters (2 or more cases possibly associated to the

school over a 14-day period) via the CDPH online

case report form posted at

http://redcap.link/chicovidreport to reduce

transmission of COVID-19 within schools

• Follow all other CDPH guidance set forth and

comply with CDPH recommendations in response

to a school outbreak


Gradually Resume

(Phase IV)

http://redcap.link/chicovidreport

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Be Safe. PK-12 EducationAppendix

Glossary


Gathering: A group of individuals outside a single

household who are part of a spontaneous or planned

event convening for more than ten minutes

Handwashing: The act of thoroughly cleaning one’s

hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or

using a disinfectant capable of eliminating the virus

that causes COVID-19

Social distancing: The physical spacing of at least six

feet between individuals, or groups of individuals.

PPE: Personal protective equipment (e.g., face

coverings, goggles, face shields); requirements vary

based on industry and specific circumstances

Self-screening: A protocol by which an employee

answers questions at the start of a shift. Subject to the

guidance of the Commissioner of Health, the

questions may include:

• Have you had a body temperature over 100

degrees Fahrenheit or have you used a fever

reducer in the previous 24 hours to treat a body

temperature over 100 degrees Fahrenheit?

• Do you have a new cough that you cannot

attribute to another health condition?

• Do you have a new or worsening sore throat that

you cannot attribute to another health condition?

• Do you have new shortness of breath that you

cannot attribute to another health condition?

• Have you recently developed a complete loss of

smell or taste?

Self-screening

sample

questionnaire

Gradually Resume

(Phase IV)

17

Be Safe. PK-12 EducationPublic Health Resources

General

workplace

guidance

National resources for further guidance

CDC – Activities and Initiatives Supporting the COVID-19 Response and

the President’s Plan for Opening America Up Again:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/php/CDC-

Activities-Initiatives-for-COVID-19-Response.pdf

CDC – Guidance for Businesses and Workplaces

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-

ncov/community/organizations/businesses-employers.html

OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19:

https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf

ISBE– Starting the 2020-21 School Year:

https://www.isbe.net/Documents/Part-3-Transition-Planning-Phase-4.pdf

US Department of Education – COVID-19 Information and Resources for

Schools and School Personnel: https://www.ed.gov/coronavirus

CDC – Guidance for Childcare, Schools and Youth Programs:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-

childcare/index.html


PK-12

Education

guidance

Any links provided in this document are for convenience and

informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or

an approval by the City of Chicago of any of the products, services or

opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. The City

of Chicago bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content

of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external

site for answers to questions regarding its content.

Disclaimer

Gradually Resume

(Phase IV)

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/php/CDC-Activities-Initiatives-for-COVID-19-Response.pdf

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/businesses-employers.html

https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf

https://www.isbe.net/Documents/Part-3-Transition-Planning-Phase-4.pdf

https://www.ed.gov/coronavirus

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/index.html